Le Roy McLean Illinois - Top Sights 

• Le Roy Attractions – A Trip through Empire Township, McLean County
• Le Roy Sights & Attractions
• - Le Roy Historical Museum

Le Roy Attractions – A Trip through Empire Township, McLean County

What makes Le Roy sights so special is the quiet way, with the story here snoring at every street corner, while I ran through the pavement. Founded in 1853, when the railway was still the new miracle, the town grew thanks to the grain trade – a bit like an old farmer who suddenly became an influencer. I don't quite understand the hype about the old barns, but the cracking wood of the former Grain Elevator has a certain charm for me, which almost seems romantic when you see the sun rise above the fields of Empire Township.

A short trip by car from Interstate 74, which is practically past the city, takes you to the heart of Le Roy, where Main Street offers more postcard motivation than real shops – a real case for nostalgics. People here, a mix of farmers, commuters and a few hipsters who believe that “Kornfeld” is a lifestyle, create an atmosphere that is both cozy and easy to irritate. If you're honest, you'll find that the real highlight is not the few museums, but the conversation with Mrs. Henderson in the café on the corner, which tells you the story of Le Roy when you're in a sip of coffee, as if she's a Hollywood script. And yes, that's exactly what I love about Le Roy: the mix of honest simplicity and a touch of sublime irony that goes through the whole village.

Le Roy Sights & Attractions

This guide invites you to stroll with me through the inconspicuous but self-willing heart of Le Roy – yes, this tiny little town in the Empire Township that you would easily overlook if you don't happen to cross Highway 150.

I start with what I personally call the “unavoidable photo motif”: the Le Roy Water Tower. This rusty colossus from the 1920s projects over the main road like an oversized gum machine. The ascent to the viewing platform is a bit like an ascent to the past – you have to climb a few steps, and then you suddenly have the feeling of watching over the entire country while the fields glisten in the sunset. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the weekly barbecue is held in the adjacent park and everyone tries to get a place near the tower.

A short trip from the tower leads you to Le Roy Historical Museum. The building used to be a bank, and you can feel it immediately when you touch the massive marble counter, which now serves as an exhibition space for old agricultural machinery and photos. I have to admit, I don't quite understand the hype about old saw blades, but the history of the local peasant families, which is exhibited here, has something calming – almost as if you were going to scroll through an old family album that you were never allowed to own.

If you are looking for a place where you can recover from the dust of everyday life, the Le Roy City Park is just the right one. The small lake there is not exactly a natural wonder, but in summer it reflects the light so that you almost forget that you are standing in the middle of the West. I once made a picnic with my neighbour, and we have argued about whether the ducks here are rather “wild” or “to zahm” – a real highlight that you do not find in every guide.

Another jewel I can't leave is the Le Roy Opera House. Yes, you have read correctly: an opera house in a city that has hardly more than a few dozen houses. Today it serves as a community center, but the original preserved stage and the artistic stucco works on the ceiling leave a short time to the glorious days of the early 20th. Believe it. I once saw an amateur theatre play there – the actors were so enthusiastic that I almost forgot that the audience consisted mostly of retired farmers who were more interested in the free coffee than in the action.

For those looking for a bit of nostalgia in the form of cracking sirens and rusty inflatables, the Le Roy Fire Department Museum is a must. There are old fire trucks that look like they come directly from a Western film. I almost climbed into the old hose line there, because I thought I could do it a little “authentic” Imagine firefighters – a short moment of finding that I should stay better with real firefighters.

Of course you can't forget the Le Roy library. It is small, but charming, with a corner where you can browse old city newspapers that report from the first cars that have traveled the main road. I found a book about the history of McLean County, which I never finished reading because I prefer to be out and enjoy the fresh air.

If you are wondering what else you can see in Le Roy, take a look at the Le Roy Farmers Market, which takes place every Saturday from May to September. Here there are fresh apples, homemade jams and the one or the other stand where an older gentleman tries to sell you “the best” corn flasks – an experience that you don’t miss if you want to taste the real country life.

Finally, I would like to briefly summarize the Le Roy sights, because I know you probably want to have a list in mind: Water Tower, Historical Museum, City Park, Opera House, Fire Department Museum, Library and Farmers Market. Each of these places has its own little charm, and together they give a picture of a city that is small but with a proper portion of character. And if you drive through Illinois the next time, remember: Sometimes the best is not in the big metropolises, but in the tiny corners you only find when you are ready to bend a little off the highway.